Recently, Michael Tymn sent me a copy of an interesting article of the May, 1911, issue of the Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research. The article is titled "The Burton Case of Hysteria and Other Phenomena," by James H. Hyslop, and it concerns a medium identified only as Mrs. Burton, who practiced both physical and mental mediumship. Her abilities, though they seem impressive enough by modern standards, were apparently not considered exceptional in Hyslop's day, and his main interest in the case was determining what role Mrs. Burton's subconscious mind played in the phenomena. (As far as I know, the piece is not online.)
In the course of the article, which is written in Hyslop's typically prolix and sometimes confusing style, the author makes a fascinating point about some behavior of Mrs. Burton when in trance that would seem, on the surface, to be clearly indicative of fraud. As Hyslop notes, a skeptical magician who might (hypothetically) sit in on the sessions would surely interpret it that way. And yet, Hyslop's close observations over a very large number of sittings cast doubt on the idea of intentional fraud, and suggested instead that the seemingly suspicious behavior was essentially innocent.
Hyslop writes, "The left hand was usually free and could do all that was necessary to ensure Mrs. Burton's part in the phenomena." By this he means that the right hand had to be free to effect physical phenomena such as mysterious lights and raps, even when these phenomena took place well outside Mrs. Burton's reach. But, he adds, "We were allowed to hold the right hand. "
This is where things got interesting. Hyslop continues:
I soon noticed, however, certain jerks in the right hand, and sometimes they were violent enough to free it from my grasp, which I purposely made lax enough usually to make freeing it easy. My purpose was to watch its action and to study the mental states which its action indicated. The jerking and freeing of the hand suggested that the medium's desire was to gain freedom in order to perform some apparent miracle [i.e., to fake some effect]. I soon observed, however, that the jerking of the left hand [that is, the free hand] occurred at the same time when there was no excuse in the performance for doing it.... The act which our [hypothetical] vigilant conjurer supposes to indicate a desire to commit fraud was automatic and not attended by any criminal intention. I then set about watching these actions for sitting after sitting and found overwhelming evidence that they were not connected with any desire or attempt to do anything whatever. In most instances when it [the right hand] gained freedom I found it passive in the left hand on the table, in her lap or on her face. Finally I found that it [the behavior] was the accompaniment of a change of personality and was not premonitory of a phenomenon, tho it often had this real or apparent significance at the same time, but was primarily a signal of the change of mind. It took some twenty sittings to settle this point alone while I kept watch on other phenomena as well....
... the main point was the inconsistency between the actions of the hands and the absence of the phenomena which the conjurer's theory should have found present. In not a single instance were the hands used to deceive us, when this freedom was granted. The left hand was used constantly enough to do things that were not what they seemed or purported to be. But the freedom of the right hand gained in the way described was usually followed by a period of rest and inactivity on the part of both hands. On the fraud theory, whether conscious or unconscious, this was absurd.
So if we can perhaps simplify Hyslop's rather cluttered language, Mrs. Burton would free her right hand when possible, a seemingly suspicious action. But having freed it, she would not do anything with it. Freeing the hand may have been prompted by some inner conflict, but it served no practical purpose.
Indeed, Hyslop found evidence that the entranced medium could not even feel her own hand. He writes:
Once Dr. Hamilton, in a dim light, saw her put her right hand against her face and become frightened, exclaiming that some one had touched her with a hand. Later she took her right hand from under mine and put it to her face, returning it to its place under mine, and asked if I had touched her. I told her that she had put her own hand on her face and she was quite astonished....
Previous to this we had discovered how such a phenomenon could occur. She had complained that her hands felt heavy and that she could not move them. I suspected anesthesia or insensibility. I tested her and found that she could not feel my pressure. We then set about a careful examination of her body and found her anesthesic on both sides of the body, legs, arms and chest and neck to the larynx. From the larynx up she was perfectly sensitive. We often found her in this same condition which meant that she was normally sensitive and conscious about the larynx and could herself be an observer of any phenomena that occurred visibly or tactually about the sensible surface, and yet not know that she was an agent in the result.
It's important to note that Mrs. Burton clearly did commit what could be called fraud at certain times. Hyslop's extensive investigations, however, led him to conclude that her trance was genuine and that the fraud was unconscious, and furthermore that it was associated exclusively with the left hand, and never with the right. Furthermore, even some apparently fraudulent actions were difficult to explain in normal terms. For instance, she was able to tie a rope "about her ankles and to the top of the chair in front and then at the back, and about her body and the right side of the chair. Then she tied her right foot to the left, to the right front foot of the chair and around the back of the chair and her body as before, bringing the rope around my left holding her right and then tying her left to the cross-piece in the table. All this had to be effected naturally with only the free left hand and I did not detect the slightest motion in her right hand and arm or any part of her body. How it was effected I cannot conjecture in any way to appear reasonable." [Emphasis added.]
All of this suggests that trance mediumship, especially of the physical kind, is a more complicated and ambiguous subject than casual study might suggest. Fraud may be unconscious; apparently fraudulent behavior may be innocent; and even clearly fraudulent behavior may not be fully explainable by sleight of hand or other tricks.
I searched "The Burton Case of Hysteria and Other Phenomena" on google.
A direct link to the article within the volume 5 of JASPR at google books was the second link down. You can read on line from that link.
http://books.google.com/books?id=GHUYAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA289&lpg=PA289&dq=The+Burton+Case+of+Hysteria+and+Other+Phenomena&source=bl&ots=iciXerVFRb&sig=1zbf60xX3dl5qm9HbtpAvVyiNOE&hl=en&ei=pSojTqrLKszEsQLI3LieAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CB8Q6AEwAQ
You can download the entire volume in pdf or text from links near the top of the page. My experience with google books is that you get better results downloading the pdf which is usually page images. Then print to a file in fax format (tiff, .tif) and then do the ocr yourself, if you have the software, converting tiff to txt. Your mileage may vary.
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 17, 2011 at 02:40 PM
Interesting post, Michael!
Posted by: Matt Rouge | July 17, 2011 at 04:43 PM
jshgfcre98ijyds,
I couldn't found the entire volume for download. Could you put a direct link to it?
Posted by: Vitor | July 17, 2011 at 07:49 PM
And do you know the links for download of the others volumes?
Posted by: Vitor | July 17, 2011 at 07:56 PM
pdf:
http://books.google.com/books/download/Journal_of_the_American_Society_for_Psyc.pdf?id=GHUYAQAAIAAJ&output=pdf&sig=ACfU3U2g-jhJ1SI7sjvSqY61q61aUVudgw
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 17, 2011 at 09:38 PM
plain text - (to read on-line not download)
http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA289&lpg=PA289&dq=The+Burton+Case+of+Hysteria+and+Other+Phenomena&sig=1zbf60xX3dl5qm9HbtpAvVyiNOE&ei=pSojTqrLKszEsQLI3LieAw&ct=result&id=GHUYAQAAIAAJ&ots=iciXerVFRb&output=text
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 17, 2011 at 09:41 PM
JASPR at google books:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&sa=G&tbo=1&tbm=bks&q=editions:t9QLAAAAIAAJ
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 17, 2011 at 09:44 PM
jshgfcre98ijyds,
I sill can't do the download. I think only people in USA can do the download. When I click the link I get a message of error:
404. That’s an error.
The requested URL /books/download/Journal_of_the_American_Society_for_Psyc.pdf?id=GHUYAQAAIAAJ&output=pdf&hl=en&capid=AFLRE70PoFWPd9o6nD1HUJo-VRXdHL0-M4-1LSQatY2HRBT15AstpCJPo5ZpYfDGXeDsSDVJYEO6Gydh0wOZIEk7cECGlYCR5oyHwjrhBDaFBK41LuztA3s&captcha=exervit was not found on this server. That’s all we know.
Could you put the files in www.4shared.com and the news links here?
Posted by: Vitor | July 17, 2011 at 10:10 PM
Or please, send the volumes 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16 to my email: [email protected]
Posted by: Vitor | July 17, 2011 at 10:15 PM
Thanks for the links, You Whose Screen Name Is Too Hard To Type.
I didn't know any of these journals were on Google Books.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | July 18, 2011 at 12:34 AM
Hi Michael,
Do those links work for you?
Hi Vitor,
I've had problems with other people (someone from Tiwan) not being able to use google books links before, that's why I wrote in my first e-mail about the google search I did and the placement of the search result. (I wasn't trying to snide about how easy it is to find them)
I can't send you those files. I have a slow dial up internet service and my "unliminted service" cuts off after 200 hours per month and I often near the limit. Downloading all those books would take up too many hours.
Maybe someone else can help you.
The only thing I can suggest is that you try to find the documents using a google search from your own computer - you probably already tried that though so I don't know what else to say.
In case it helps...
I found the link to all the volumes by clicking on a link that said something like "more editions" when I got the first response to my google search.
The link for the pdf download shows up in the upper right region of the page when you look at a single page in the book. It is just a link that says "PDF".
There also might be discussion forums on the internet about google books you could try posting there and asking for help.
I wish I could be of more help ... sorry.
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 18, 2011 at 02:08 AM
Someone in this blog could send me the volumes? Please?:-)
If the size of the file is too big, use this link: http://www.mailbigfile.com/free/
Posted by: Vitor | July 18, 2011 at 09:13 AM
Hi Vitor,
I forgot, but just remembered, some of the public domain books at google books are also at internet archive.
I don't know if every thing at google books is at internet archive but it looks like some of them are. This link includes proceedings as well as the journal ....
http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=American%20Society%20for%20Psychical%20Research
If you can get to these books, you might try some different searches, the volumes books might be there but not labeled exactly the same way.
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 18, 2011 at 10:13 AM
I get the volumes 1, 2, 7, 14, 15 from archive.org. The others I couldn't find.
Posted by: Vitor | July 18, 2011 at 10:39 AM
Hi Vitor,
There is a forum at archive.org, for example...
http://www.archive.org/post/349360/adding-a-google-book-to-archiveorg
Maybe someone there would be willing to upload them for you.
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 18, 2011 at 11:12 AM
I wrote there, but still no answer. This can help:
http://www.aboutonlinetips.com/google-books-downloader/
Posted by: Vitor | July 18, 2011 at 06:20 PM
Hi me again.
I was just wondering Michael have you read any pro-darwinism/anti-ID books, and or books on evolution?
Posted by: Forbes | July 18, 2011 at 07:42 PM
"have you read any pro-darwinism/anti-ID books, and or books on evolution?"
Yes, I've read some of Dawkins' books and no doubt others, though it's been a while since I read anything on the subject.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | July 18, 2011 at 08:47 PM
"Do those links work for you?"
I only tried the first link you posted. It works for me. The Download button works too.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | July 18, 2011 at 09:02 PM
Wow..Nice Blog, Nice tips, Great article!, I have recently started a blog, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thank you for all of your time & work. :)
Posted by: Annie Leibovitz | July 19, 2011 at 04:34 PM
Interesting post, Michael. Brings to mind Deborah Blum's excellent account of Eusapia Palladino, which helped me to understand how fraud and genuine ability could co-exist.
"fraud was unconscious, and furthermore it was associated exclusively with the left hand, and never with the right."
I wonder if this is connected in any way to this (as stated in Wikipedia):
"Historically, the left side, and subsequently left-handedness, was considered negative in many cultures. The Latin word sinistra originally meant "left" but took on meanings of "evil" or "unlucky" by the Classical Latin era, and this double meaning survives in European derivatives of Latin, and in the English word "sinister".
Posted by: Bruce Siegel | July 19, 2011 at 05:48 PM
"Wow..Nice Blog, Nice tips, Great article!"
So I checked you out and I see that you are, in fact, THE Annie Leibowitz. So welcome, Annie!
But TIPS? I don't see 'em! You mean as in "What to pack for the afterlife?"
:o)
Posted by: Bruce Siegel | July 19, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Bruce, I think the Tips might be what to expect in the Afterlife. I'm sure everyone who visits here will stroll in quite blasé through the tunnel, etc. The only thing that still troubles me is how to avoid a few deceased relatives that I'm not so anxious to meet again. I'm still stumped on that one.
Posted by: Kathleen | July 19, 2011 at 08:21 PM
"I see that you are, in fact, THE Annie Leibowitz."
Yeah, and I'm the Duke of Wales. But don't tell anyone. Kate just hates it when I blog.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | July 19, 2011 at 08:21 PM
"Interesting post, Michael. Brings to mind Deborah Blum's excellent account of Eusapia Palladino, which helped me to understand how fraud and genuine ability could co-exist."
My understanding is that some of Eusapia's fraud was conscious and deliberate.
http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/seance/78/eusapia.htm
"It was the sitting by Howard Thurston, a renowned professional magician, that demonstrates an excellent example of Eusapia's behaviour and supports Carrington's view mentioned above. Carrington took Thurston to Eusapia for a seance and as soon as it began, the two men observed Eusapia had lifted the table with her toe. Carrington shook his head and said, 'Not good, Eusapia'. Then: 'She thereupon smiled also, settled down in her chair, went into a light trance, and soon produced a series of perfectly magnificent genuine levitations, which so convinced Thurston that he came out in the papers the next day with a thousand-dollar challenge to any magician who could produce table levitations under the same conditions. The challenge was never accepted'. The reality was: 'The mischievous, impish self of the medium trying to "pull something", just for fun, and when she saw that she could not get away with it with impunity, she then produced the genuine article.(21)"
"(21)H. Carrington, Op. Cit.,, rev. (Cranbury, NJ: A. S. Barnes, 1973), pp.32-33."
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 19, 2011 at 09:26 PM
"My understanding is that some of Eusapia's fraud was conscious and deliberate."
You're absolutely right. That makes the Burton case quite different.
Posted by: Bruce Siegel | July 19, 2011 at 11:44 PM
Annie is okay with a camera, right ? :-)
Posted by: . | July 20, 2011 at 03:35 AM
Hi,
This is off topic but might be of interest to readers here...
I just listened to a free audio meditation program available at:
http://copingstrategiescd.com/
It is offered to the public as a system for treating post traumatic stress. Anyone can listen free on line, a free cd is available for individuasl affiliated with the military, other individuals can purchase a cd.
However to me it seems like a pretty good system of spiritual development.
It's slightly over one hour long, and consists of a guided mindfulness meditation followed by a discussion. It seems to be aimed at releasing negative emotions and the development of positive traits like forgiveness, patience, and tolerance.
Why is this spiritual development? Anything that makes you more fit for the higer levels in the spirit world contributes to your spiritual development.
I think it is influenced by buddhism which is how most westerners become acquainted with mindfulness meditation but I don't think this is mentions in the program. There is a bit of religion but I don't think athiests would be offended since the program is presented as a practical method of learning to think differently about your emotions.
I've only listened once but two things in the cd I disagree with are.
1) They are dismissive of chemical balance theories of psychological states. I think these are useful. You don't have to accept them as limiting but I don't think they should be ignored either.
2) It says to avoid imaginary converstaions. I think controlling your thinking is necessary during meditation, but outside meditation, in my opinion you need a balance between "free thinking" "letting out emotions" vs. trying to think correctly all the time.
On the whole I highly recommend the program.
An article about the cd can be found here:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=319737
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 20, 2011 at 03:48 AM
Mr Presott,
Kindly do not refer to me as the Duke of Wales. I am the Duke of Cambridge, or Wills, to you.
Posted by: HRH The Duke of Cambridge | July 20, 2011 at 03:52 AM
"I just listened to a free audio meditation program available at:
">http://copingstrategiescd.com/"
Evidently, this is by Roy Masters. I hadn't heard of him until now. Some more links....
http://www.fhu.com/index2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Masters_(commentator)
The meditation is good but not unique. What I really like about the program is the discussion part. It brings together ideas from various places and puts them together in one place.
There are so many voices on our society advocating negative and selfish values - the news media, the entertainment industry, marketing, sales, advertising etc, that I am always looking for things, like this audo program, that remind me about positive values. That's one of the reasons that in the past I've enjoyed going to Spiritualist church services and dharma talks at the local zen center.
It's so easy to sink into the ordinary self centered mindset and rare to find ways to raise yourself above it.
Posted by: jshgfcre98ijyds | July 20, 2011 at 07:32 AM
HRH is correct. He is the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge. My apologies to him, his family, and his loyal subjects.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | July 20, 2011 at 07:55 AM
Mr Prescott,
The Prince of Wales is my dear father,
Charles.
I am Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
You will never get your knighthood at this rate.
Posted by: HRH The Duke of Cambridge | July 20, 2011 at 02:06 PM
Prince Charles is the Prince of Wales . Prince William is the Duke of Cambridge.
Neither has any subjects as they are not the monarch (yet !:))
Posted by: Pearl | July 20, 2011 at 02:10 PM
Huh. Well, I got it wrong again.
I guess I'd better stick to talking about American stuff.
Posted by: Michael Prescott | July 20, 2011 at 07:18 PM